Susan Liehe brings a 30-year career in marketing communications to Richard Male & Associates. She has worked in the nonprofit sector exclusively since 1985, with her core strengths being media relations, PR campaigns, print/electronic publications, and community outreach. She loves to help smaller organizations define who they wish to reach, with what messages, and with a precise call to action. Today’s toolbox of communications can be a blend of time-honored traditions and the very newest technology, and Susan enjoys finding just the right mix of strategies and messages to bring results.

Susan started with a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri in 1977. Early on she provided media and marketing assistance to an alternative energy nonprofit in Montana, then came back to Colorado. She worked in engineering as a technical writer and developed software documentation.

In 1985 she joined the staff of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce as a publications manager, later assuming the role of assistant VP of communications. Writing to support a mission, working on advocacy and public affairs, producing special events, and forming relationships with the news media to achieve mutual goals—Susan found she belonged in nonprofit communications and has never looked back.

She spent almost 11 years at the Chamber, two years as marketing director with Goodwill Industries of Denver, and then 10 years as the VP Public Affairs for the Better Business Bureau of Denver/Boulder. She also served as the executive director of The BBB Foundation, appeared frequently as a media spokesperson, and is an accomplished public speaker. After she earned a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University in 2008, she launched her own consulting firm, ProActive PR, and joined the team at RMA.

Susan believes in two mantras: “The greatest challenge in communication is the illusion that it has occurred” is one. Fortunately, she also knows that “With enough coffee, all things are possible.”

So there’s hope.

You can reach Susan at susan@richardmale.com.